Zither support and sounding device.



"0.6941194. Patented Feb. 25, 1902;.

J. A. DUEBST.

2mm: SUPPORT AND souuoma DEVICE.

(Application filed Jgn; 30, 1901.) an; Ilodol.)

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\ hole, the sound efiect shall be greatly im- 'of the strings or thernore serious effect of a UNITED TATES ATENT ,FFICE.

JOSEPH A. DUERST, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

srncrrroarion forming part of Letters Pa tent N 0. 694,094, datedFebruary 25, 1902.

Application filed January 30, 1901. Serial No. 45,291- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. Dunnsr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inZither Supports and Sounding Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a zither support and sounding device, and hasfor its object to provide a conveniently-adjusted support for the top ofthe zither to thereby preventthe usual sagging of the top, with itsconsequent efiect of varying the tension and pitch-note total collapseof the top under the tension of the strings.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved zither support andsounding de-' vice consisting of a bottom plate having a screw mountedtherein which is provided with a shoulder adapted to support a top plateand a square portion upon its free end by which the device may beadjusted.

Another object is to provide a support of this character that by itsbearing upon the upper side of the bottom of the zither and the underside of the top of the same, with the screw connecting the bearings orsupports and the device located at or contiguous to the soundproved.

The invention consists in the parts and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a zither, which may beof any preferred form of construction, the device being shown as appliedthereto in the feature of the top support shown as extendingtransversely of the sound-hole and bearing against the under side of thetop. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device in position Withinthe body of the zither, portions of the latter being shown in section.Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View showing a preferred form of construc-'tion.

1 designates the zither, with the usual soundhole 2 formed in the top 3,the bottom being designated by the numeral 4..

The support comprises a base-plate 5, hav ing a central screw-threadedboss 6, a top plate 7 of a length to span the sound-hole 2 and bearagainst the marginal side thereof, with a central orifice 8, andpreferablya hearing 9 upon its under side.

10 designates a screw, preferably with a left-hand thread,the lower endof which screws into the lower plate and is provided with a shoulder 11to bear upon the upper plate at the bearing 9 and with a squared end 12,upon which the string-wrench may be adjusted to revolve the screw andcause the plate 7 to bear with any desired degree of pressure upon theunder side of the top 3.

The effect of the support is to fully sustain the broad top of thezither from sinking from its normal relation with the bottom 4, therebymaintaining a determinate tension upon the strings and also preventing acollapse of the top, as often occurs. A further effect is to, by theconnection with the bottom and top by a determinate pressure, greatlyincrease the musical tone of the instrumentthat is to say, renderthemodifications of tone controllable.

While I have described my invention as particularly applicable to azither, it is adapt= ableto difierent forms of stringed instruments, andI wish it to be so understood in the interpretation of the claim.

What I claim is In a zither support and sounding device, the combinationof a bottom plate havin gascrewthreaded orifice, a screw mounted in thesaid threaded orifice, a shoulder upon the said screw, a top platehaving a central orifice, the said toprplate supported by the saidshoulder, and a square portion upon the free end of the said screw,projecting up through the orifice in the said top plate, substantiallyas shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLI M WEBSTER, E. V. M. BRENNAN.

